Chapter 203. Today, I Shall Slay Sages!

The three Sages stood high in the sky, each emanating terrifying but distinct auras. Lei You's presence proved the most formidable among the three. As a Celestial, he possessed innate command over wind and lightning.

Every beat of his wings sent lightning rampaging across the skies. It pierced the clouds and unleashed violent roars of thunder. Even though his power as a Sage was being concealed, he still had the demeanor of a Sage, and it made him appear terrifying beyond measure.

In fact, his mere presence exerted a crushing weight upon those staring at him.

"In the distant ancient times, the Milky Way Starfield gave rise to the so-called Celestial Court, which produced countless powerhouses whose power was capable of shaking the universe."

"For eons, Earth has remained dormant, but its foundations remain terrifying. This long suppression means that once it erupts, an unprecedented era of endless opportunity and boons to take will unfold."

The Void Sage of the Primeval Daemon Race spoke upon sensing the mysterious power suffusing Earth. It felt different from his Ancestral Planet, and his expression turned grave. Indeed, the Milky Way Starfield was once a glorious starfield, and now, it was about to become the very center of the universe.

Many major events would occur here, and supreme opportunities lay hidden all over Earth. Whichever clan or race could seize them would rise to defy the heavens. They'd even contend for a place among the top ten starfields across the Outer Cosmos.

"If we wish to control this place, we must not just compete with the other races and clans, but we must also eliminate certain variables," Lei You said, his gaze gleaming with killing intent as he stared in a particular direction.

"Do not forget the reason we paid the price to descend here."

The "reason" he spoke of was, of course, Lu Yuan. Lu Yuan had slain a Ranker of the Celestial Race's younger generation right before his eyes. That grudge had to be settled for the dignity of the Celestial Race.

However, vengeance was only part of the reason he descended here.

There was another reason all three of them shared. A being of such formidable might had suddenly appeared on Earth. They could not allow his continued existence. After all, he was a variable who could interfere with their future plans.

He had already reached the Venerable King Realm, but his power was already extraordinary. If he were allowed to grow, who could say for sure how terrifying he would become?

He had to be strangled in the cradle. Otherwise, his growth would snowball out of control, especially when considering the unique conditions of this world.

It was only a matter of time before he became a Sage. If that happened, it would spell disaster for all three of their races.

"Let's go!" exclaimed the Void Sage of the Three-Headed Ghost Race. His killing intent burned the fiercest among them, and his eyes blazed with an incomparably cold light.

Without the slightest hesitation, the three Sages shot toward their destination.

Upon their descent, they had already confirmed Lu Yuan's location. There was some deviation, but their level of power meant that they could easily correct it.

***

At Mount Tai's Jade Emperor Peak, Lu Yuan sat cross-legged with an utterly calm expression. The officials had already notified him that the three Sages had finally descended, and the great battle of the ages was about to begin.

In response, Lu Yuan said nothing and remained where he was, gazing forward.

Despite his silence, however, boundless power churned inside him. This would likely be his most grueling battle yet, against the strongest enemies he had ever faced.

However, Lu Yuan felt no fear and only anticipation.

The reason was simple. Ever since the Global Awakening, his preparations had kept him one step ahead and always at the forefront of everything. As a result, every battle he had experienced so far had ended in his overwhelming victory.

He had never once fought at full strength, which left him unable to gauge just how powerful he truly was. However, things were different now.

Three Sages had descended to fight him. Even if they were not at their peak, they would be enough to test his true limits.

Hence, his anticipation and will to fight only grew with each passing second.

"Is it just me, or is King Lu becoming more and more excited to fight?" asked the Nine-tailed Fox King, looking alarmed as it noticed the surging power inside Lu Yuan.

The Nine-tailed Fox King and all of humanity were deeply worried about something untoward happening to Lu Yuan in the upcoming battle. Despite that, Lu Yuan himself seemed unconcerned about his dangerous predicament.

"He has always been like that. He has always believed he's invincible, and that is very important for a true powerhouse," the Spirit Monkey remarked. It had interacted with Lu Yuan longer than the others and understood him better.

The Peacock King nodded as well, recalling its own battle against him.

It was utterly crushed at the time. Even its true feathers were taken away, and back then, Lu Yuan had only been at the Unfettered Realm. Now that he had reached the Venerable King Realm, even the Peacock King could not imagine how strong he had become.

Sages were powerful, yes. However, Lu Yuan had never been defeated in any of his battles. Perhaps this time would be no different? The three beast kings exchanged glances, each understanding what the others were thinking.

Crackle!

Just then, a violent thunderclap tore through the sky. A bolt of lightning pierced the skies, dispersing clouds spanning tens of thousands of miles as it made its way to Jade Emperor Peak.

All three beast kings felt an immense pressure bearing down on them. They knew that if the lightning bolt landed on them, the consequences would be catastrophic.

The Sages were here!

The three beast kings retreated immediately, unwilling to face such power head-on. The gap was just too vast.

However, Lu Yuan rose to his feet upon seeing that bolt of lightning. The next literal instant, a blazing sun manifested behind him, radiating a blazing light. Then, he threw a single punch.

Boom!

His fist collided with the lightning bolt, eliciting a terrifying

boom

. The powerful explosion blasted away boulders, sending them crumbling across the air, and even Mount Tai itself trembled.

The mutated beasts across Mount Tai shrieked and prostrated themselves on the ground. The shockwaves that briefly swept across them told them that the ongoing battle was between beings far stronger than they could imagine.

The Jade Emperor Peak itself remained unharmed, as it was being protected by a special power. At the center of it all, Lu Yuan stood with his hands clasped behind his back, looking calm.

Just then, three figures appeared in the distance. They were Lei You and the two Void Sages of the Primeval Daemon Race and the Three-Headed Ghost Race.

They were humanoid in appearance, and the auras emanating from them were so strong that their presence alone seemed to blot out even the skies.

Elder Ji, Zhu Qingyu, and the others paled at the sight. They could feel the Sages' overwhelming power even though they were afar.

Compared to the Nether Bulls from before, the Sages were immeasurably stronger—no, they were on an entirely different level altogether.

At this moment, everyone had their eyes on the Sages, including the beings from the Outer Cosmos who had slipped into the vicinity some time ago.

Everyone knew that a battle for the ages was about to erupt, and it would reshape the power structure of this world. With that in mind, how could they possibly ignore this battle?

***

"Saintess, are you certain you won't intervene?" Uncle Jiang asked with a frown as he stood in a small courtyard. "Elders attacking juniors is already considered excessive even among the great clans of the Outer Cosmos."

"I have faith in him." Jiang Ningxian smiled, her calmness mirrored Lu Yuan's. She knew that with his personality, he wouldn't do anything he was not confident in. Since he had chosen to act, he had to have a reason behind it.

Sure, they were Sages, but so what? They were weakened, so the outcome was far from certain.

"I understand." Uncle Jiang nodded. Then, he recalled something and added, "Word has come from our Ancestral Planet. The Ji Clan should be arriving soon as well, along with representatives from the Eternal Starfield, the Sky Dragon Starfield, and others.

"This place will become a battlefield of a hundred factions. Also, the Holy Son will be descending ahead of the others."

At the mention of the "Holy Son," a strange light flickered across Uncle Jiang's eyes.

Even Jiang Ningxian frowned and sighed. "Let's not talk about that guy. If he wants to come here, then let him come."

She clearly had no desire to continue discussing the topic. Raising her head, she looked up and stared at the sky. Compared to the Holy Son of her clan, she was far more concerned about Lu Yuan.

***

"Human Lu Yuan, today is your death anniversary!" Lei You declared, his voice booming like thunder. He did not even bother to hide his intention of slaughtering Lu Yuan.

He hovered in mid-air, looking domineering as he stared down at Jade Emperor Peak.

The two Void Sages next to him radiated equally cold auras. Over a month ago, Lu Yuan had slain Lei Xuan right before their eyes. It was an unforgivable offense. Now, it was time for him to pay the price.

Despite the clear threat, Lu Yuan paid the three Sages no heed.

He turned to the Peacock King and the others, saying, "Even I will find it difficult to control my own power for this fight. I'll have to trouble you all to protect those down below."

With that, he looked up and ascended, step by step. With each step, his aura intensified, and he ascended until he stood level with the three Sages.

As he hovered in midair, he met their gazes.

"From the moment I set foot on the path of evolution, I have never met my match. I will admit it. Today may be my most difficult battle yet."

Lu Yuan's voice remained calm, devoid of any emotional fluctuations. However, his aura was indeed far inferior compared to the three Sages.

"I didn't expect you to have some self-awareness." Lei You laughed, his gaze cold. "However, it's too late for regrets now. From the day you chose to defy us, your fate was sealed. Unless, of course, you take your own life!"

In his eyes, Lu Yuan's words were an attempt to submit, and it satisfied his pride somewhat. The Sage Realm was entirely different from all previous stages of evolution. The gap between a Venerable King and a Sage was truly insurmountable.

Lei You believed that perhaps, Lu Yuan had finally come to realize that massive chasm. Perhaps he had finally learned to be afraid, but so what? His fate was determined.

The two Void Sages stepped forward in unison in response to Lei You's words.

Though they did not unleash their power as Sages, the pressure they exuded was so terrifying that it made even the sky itself tremble. Their oppressive aura descended and swept across the land in the form of violent gales.

Down below, Elder Ji, Elder Yun, and the others turned pale.

Even though they were weakened, Sages were still truly terrifying. Every gaze turned toward Lu Yuan, and tension gripped every heart.

In response to Lei You's words, Lu Yuan revealed a faint smile. "You want me to take my own life? No, thank you. Today, I shall slay you, Sages, myself!"